Elementary Spanish Course

After Elementary, you can

• Tell what happened, and describe how things used to be, with the preterite and imperfect.
• Shop, order, ask for directions and handle routine travel situations.
• Compare people and things, and use object pronouns naturally.
• Read short stories and messages about familiar topics.

Units and lessons

1. Unit 1 · The preterite: regular verbs

   Saying what happened: regular preterite endings and spelling changes.

   1. The Preterite Tense: Regular Verbs, Part 1 of 2
   2. Pattern Practice: -AR Verbs in the Preterite
   3. Minimal Pairs: Present or Preterite?
   4. The Preterite Tense: Regular Verbs, Part 2 of 2
   5. Dialogue Lab: What Did You Do This Weekend?
   6. Error Hunt: Preterite Accents & Spelling
   7. Speed Round: -car, -gar, -zar in the Yo Form
   8. Build-Up: A Weekend Story in Five Steps
   9. Spelling: ¿ ¡, Capitals and Where the Stress Falls
   10. Accents That Change the Word: tú/tu, él/el, sí/si, qué/que
   11. Unit 1 review: The preterite: regular verbs

2. Unit 2 · Irregular preterites

   Fui, tuve, hice, dije and the other common irregular past forms.

   1. Common Irregular Preterites, Part 1 of 2
   2. Drill Circuit: The U, I and J Stem Groups
   3. Choose & Explain: Fui — Ser or Ir?
   4. Common Irregular Preterites, Part 2 of 2
   5. Transformations: Today → Yesterday
   6. Contrast Clinic: Fue (Was) vs. Fue (Went)
   7. Fix the Paragraph: Irregular Preterites
   8. Q&A Drill: Irregular Preterites in Conversation
   9. Minimal Pairs: Regular or Irregular?, Part 1 of 2
   10. Minimal Pairs: Regular or Irregular?, Part 2 of 2
   11. Unit 2 review: Irregular preterites

3. Unit 3 · The imperfect

   Describing how things were and what used to happen.

   1. The Imperfect Tense, Part 1 of 2 · 1/2
   2. The Imperfect Tense, Part 1 of 2 · 2/2
   3. Pattern Practice: Imperfect Endings
   4. Drill Circuit: Era, Iba, Veía
   5. The Imperfect Tense, Part 2 of 2
   6. Real-World Mission: When I Was a Kid
   7. Spiral Review: Two Past Tenses + Beginner Essentials
   8. Build-Up: Paint the Scene
   9. Minimal Pairs: Old Habits, New Habits
   10. Unit 3 review: The imperfect

4. Unit 4 · Preterite vs. imperfect

   Choosing the right past tense: events, backgrounds and interruptions.

   1. Preterite vs. Imperfect, Part 1 of 2
   2. Choose & Explain: Which Past, and Why?
   3. Speed Round: Signal Words
   4. Pattern Practice: Cuando… (Interrupted Actions)
   5. Preterite vs. Imperfect, Part 2 of 2
   6. Story Detective: The Missing Bike
   7. Story Cloze: The Snow Day
   8. Minimal Pairs: Same Verb, Different Story
   9. Chain Transformations: Habit → One Time
   10. Unit 4 review: Preterite vs. imperfect

5. Unit 5 · Telling stories in the past

   Both past tenses together, plus verbs that change meaning in the past.

   1. Elementary Vocabulary Practice, Part 1 of 5 · 1/2
   2. Elementary Vocabulary Practice, Part 1 of 5 · 2/2
   3. Common Words: Opinions and Guesses, Part 1 of 2
   4. Common Words: Opinions and Guesses, Part 2 of 2
   5. Mastery Check: Preterite vs. Imperfect, Part 1 of 2
   6. Mastery Check: Preterite vs. Imperfect, Part 2 of 2
   7. Common Words: Praise, Complaints and Feelings
   8. Error Hunt: Preterite or Imperfect?, Part 1 of 2
   9. Error Hunt: Preterite or Imperfect?, Part 2 of 2
   10. Contrast Clinic: Verbs That Change Meaning in the Past, Part 1 of 2
   11. Contrast Clinic: Verbs That Change Meaning in the Past, Part 2 of 2
   12. Fix the Paragraph: Wrong Past Tense, Part 1 of 2
   13. Fix the Paragraph: Wrong Past Tense, Part 2 of 2
   14. Q&A Drill: Answer in the Right Past, Part 1 of 2
   15. Q&A Drill: Answer in the Right Past, Part 2 of 2
   16. Mixed Practice: Past Tenses Round 1, Part 1 of 2
   17. Mixed Practice: Past Tenses Round 1, Part 2 of 2
   18. Unit 5 review: Telling stories in the past

6. Unit 6 · The present perfect

   He comido, has visto: today and this week, irregular participles, ya, todavía no, alguna vez, and he comido vs. comí.

   1. The Present Perfect: He Comido, Has Visto, Part 1 of 2
   2. The Present Perfect: He Comido, Has Visto, Part 2 of 2
   3. Irregular Participles: Hecho, Dicho, Visto, Puesto, Part 1 of 2
   4. Irregular Participles: Hecho, Dicho, Visto, Puesto, Part 2 of 2
   5. Ya, Todavía No, Alguna Vez: Experiences, Part 1 of 2
   6. Ya, Todavía No, Alguna Vez: Experiences, Part 2 of 2
   7. He Comido or Comí?, Part 1 of 2
   8. He Comido or Comí?, Part 2 of 2
   9. Mastery Check: The Present Perfect, Part 1 of 2
   10. Mastery Check: The Present Perfect, Part 2 of 2
   11. Real-World Mission: Today's News
   12. Common Words: History, Conflict and Survival
   13. Unit 6 review: The present perfect

7. Unit 7 · Direct object pronouns

   Lo, la, los, las, me, te, nos: replacing the object and where it goes.

   1. Direct Object Pronouns, Part 1 of 2
   2. Pattern Practice: Lo, La, Los, Las
   3. Q&A Drill: Me, Te, Nos as Direct Objects
   4. Direct Object Pronouns, Part 2 of 2
   5. Transformations: Replace the Object
   6. Real-World Mission: Packing for a Trip
   7. Choose & Explain: Before the Verb or Attached?
   8. Build-Up: Shopping Without Repeating Words
   9. Fix the Paragraph: Direct Object Pronouns
   10. Unit 7 review: Direct object pronouns

8. Unit 8 · Indirect object pronouns

   Le and les with dar, decir and gustar-type verbs; lo or le?

   1. Indirect Object Pronouns, Part 1 of 2
   2. Pattern Practice: Le and Les with Dar, Decir, Escribir
   3. Minimal Pairs: Lo or Le?
   4. Indirect Object Pronouns, Part 2 of 2
   5. Dialogue Lab: Gifts & Favors
   6. Contrast Clinic: Lo/La vs. Le
   7. Drill Circuit: Me Gusta, Le Encanta, Nos Molesta
   8. Q&A Drill: Favors and Messages
   9. Fix the Paragraph: Le, Les and Gustar
   10. Elementary Vocabulary Practice, Part 2 of 5
   11. Common Words: Linking Ideas
   12. Common Words: Where Things Are
   13. Unit 8 review: Indirect object pronouns

9. Unit 9 · Reflexive verbs & routines

   Me levanto, te duchas: daily routines and verbs that change with se.

   1. Reflexive Verbs & Daily Routine, Part 1 of 2
   2. Pattern Practice: Me Levanto, Te Levantas, Se Levanta
   3. Minimal Pairs: Lavo / Me Lavo
   4. Reflexive Verbs & Daily Routine, Part 2 of 2
   5. Real-World Mission: Yesterday Morning Went Wrong
   6. Contrast Clinic: With or Without Se
   7. Timeline Drill: Yesterday's Routine
   8. Choose & Explain: Voy a Ducharme / Me Voy a Duchar
   9. Drill Circuit: Verbs That Change with Se
   10. Unit 9 review: Reflexive verbs & routines

10. Unit 10 · Comparisons & superlatives

    Más que, menos que, tan/tanto como, mejor, peor, el más.

    1. Comparisons & Superlatives, Part 1 of 2
    2. Pattern Practice: Más… Que, Menos… Que
    3. Comparisons & Superlatives, Part 2 of 2
    4. Real-World Mission: Comparing Apartments
    5. Error Hunt: Comparisons & Superlatives
    6. Drill Circuit: Tan, Tanto, Tanta, Tantos, Tantas
    7. Minimal Pairs: Mejor, Peor, Mayor, Menor
    8. Unit 10 review: Comparisons & superlatives

11. Unit 11 · The future tense

    Hablaré, tendré: plans, predictions and guesses about now.

    1. The Future Tense, Part 1 of 2
    2. Pattern Practice: Future Endings on the Whole Infinitive
    3. The Future Tense, Part 2 of 2
    4. Real-World Mission: Predictions & Promises
    5. Spiral Review: Past, Present & Future
    6. Drill Circuit: Tendr-, Saldr-, Har-, Dir-
    7. Minimal Pairs: Voy a Viajar / Viajaré
    8. Choose & Explain: Future of Probability
    9. Unit 11 review: The future tense

12. Unit 12 · Por vs. para

    The main uses of por and para, one pair at a time.

    1. Por vs. Para, Parte 1 de 2
    2. Drill Circuit: The Four Uses of Para
    3. Drill Circuit: The Four Uses of Por
    4. Por vs. Para, Parte 2 de 2
    5. Real-World Mission: Planning a Trip with Por & Para
    6. Minimal Pairs: Por Ti / Para Ti, Parte 1 de 2
    7. Minimal Pairs: Por Ti / Para Ti, Parte 2 de 2
    8. Q&A Drill: ¿Por Qué? / ¿Para Qué?
    9. Story Cloze: The Road Trip
    10. Unit 12 review: Por vs. para

13. Unit 13 · Por vs. para in practice

    Mastery check, error hunts and quick calls on por and para.

    1. Elementary Vocabulary Practice, Part 3 of 5
    2. Common Words: People and Relationships
    3. Common Words: Feelings and Character, Part 1 of 2
    4. Common Words: Feelings and Character, Part 2 of 2
    5. Mastery Check: Por vs. Para
    6. Error Hunt: Por or Para?
    7. Spiral Review: Pronouns, Reflexives & Por/Para
    8. Choose & Explain: Por or Para — and Which Use?
    9. Fix the Paragraph: Por and Para Swapped
    10. Speed Round: Por or Para? 12 Quick Calls
    11. Unit 13 review: Por vs. para in practice

14. Unit 14 · Personal a & negatives

    The personal a, and nada, nadie, nunca with double negation.

    1. The Personal "a"
    2. Error Hunt: The Personal A
    3. Choose & Explain: A or No A?
    4. Fix the Paragraph: Missing and Extra A's
    5. Negative Words and the Double Negative, Part 1 of 2
    6. Negative Words and the Double Negative, Part 2 of 2
    7. Transformations: Make It Negative
    8. Pattern Practice: No… Nada, No… Nadie, No… Nunca
    9. Chain Transformations: Alguien → Nadie, Algo → Nada
    10. Elementary Vocabulary Practice, Part 4 of 5
    11. Common Words: When Things Happen, Part 1 of 2
    12. Common Words: When Things Happen, Part 2 of 2
    13. Common Words: Information and the News, Part 1 of 2
    14. Common Words: Information and the News, Part 2 of 2
    15. Unit 14 review: Personal a & negatives

15. Unit 15 · Adverbs & directions

    Adverbs in -mente, and asking for and giving directions.

    1. Adverbs in -mente, Part 1 of 2
    2. Adverbs in -mente, Part 2 of 2
    3. Contrast Clinic: Adjective or Adverb?
    4. Build-Up: Adjective → Adverb
    5. Common Words: Goals, Rules and Possibilities
    6. How to Ask for and Give Directions, Part 1 of 2
    7. How to Ask for and Give Directions, Part 2 of 2
    8. Real-World Mission: Lost in Seville
    9. Build-Up: Giving Directions Step by Step
    10. Q&A Drill: Is It Far?
    11. Unit 15 review: Adverbs & directions

16. Unit 16 · Commands, little words & tricky pairs

    Tú commands with pronouns, diminutives, hace... que, muy or mucho, pedir or preguntar, and vos and vosotros.

    1. Telling a Friend What to Do: Regular Tú Commands
    2. Eight Short Commands: di, haz, ve, pon, sal, sé, ten, ven
    3. Little Words: -ito, -ita, -cito and -illo
    4. How Long? Hace... que, desde hace and hace (ago)
    5. Muy or Mucho?
    6. Pedir or Preguntar? Two Ways to Ask
    7. Vos and Vosotros: What You'll Hear
    8. Unit 16 review: Commands, little words & tricky pairs

17. Unit 17 · At the restaurant

    Ordering, complaining politely and Elementary spiral reviews.

    1. At the Restaurant, Part 1 of 2
    2. At the Restaurant, Part 2 of 2 · 1/2
    3. At the Restaurant, Part 2 of 2 · 2/2
    4. Dialogue Lab: Something's Wrong with My Order
    5. Spiral Review: Elementary So Far — Telling Stories
    6. Spiral Review: Elementary So Far — Tools of Everyday Talk
    7. Pattern Practice: Ordering Politely, Part 1 of 2
    8. Pattern Practice: Ordering Politely, Part 2 of 2
    9. Story Cloze: The Worst Dinner Ever, Part 1 of 2
    10. Story Cloze: The Worst Dinner Ever, Part 2 of 2
    11. Unit 17 review: At the restaurant

18. Unit 18 · Survival situations

    Role plays for everyday errands: shops, pharmacy, doctor, hotel, transport, post office, hairdresser, plans, small talk and getting help.

    1. Survival: Clothes Shopping and Sizes
    2. Survival: At the Pharmacy
    3. Survival: Making a Doctor's Appointment
    4. Survival: Hotel Check-in and Small Problems
    5. Survival: Buses, Trains and Tickets
    6. Survival: The Post Office and Parcels
    7. Survival: At the Hairdresser's
    8. Survival: Making Plans and Invitations
    9. Survival: Small Talk
    10. Survival: Asking for Help and Lost Documents
    11. Elementary Vocabulary Practice, Part 5 of 5 · 1/2
    12. Elementary Vocabulary Practice, Part 5 of 5 · 2/2
    13. Unit 18 review: Survival situations

19. Unit 19 · Everyday words & past stories

    Word webs for travel, health, tech and work, and longer past-tense stories.

    1. Word Web: Travel & Trips, Part 1 of 2
    2. Word Web: Travel & Trips, Part 2 of 2
    3. Word Web: Health & the Doctor, Part 1 of 2
    4. Word Web: Health & the Doctor, Part 2 of 2
    5. Word Web: Phones, Messages & Screens, Part 1 of 2
    6. Word Web: Phones, Messages & Screens, Part 2 of 2
    7. Word Web: Body & Daily Routine, Part 1 of 2
    8. Word Web: Body & Daily Routine, Part 2 of 2
    9. Word Web: Work & Future Plans, Part 1 of 2
    10. Word Web: Work & Future Plans, Part 2 of 2
    11. Word Web: Weather & Seasons, Part 1 of 2
    12. Word Web: Weather & Seasons, Part 2 of 2
    13. Story Cloze: The Wedding Where Everything Went Wrong, Part 1 of 2
    14. Story Cloze: The Wedding Where Everything Went Wrong, Part 2 of 2
    15. Fix the Paragraph: A Travel Diary
    16. Timeline Drill: A Short Biography
    17. Mixed Practice: Past Tenses Round 3 (Hardest), Part 1 of 2
    18. Mixed Practice: Past Tenses Round 3 (Hardest), Part 2 of 2
    19. Say It Yourself: My Last Year in Ten Sentences, Part 1 of 2
    20. Say It Yourself: My Last Year in Ten Sentences, Part 2 of 2
    21. Dictation Drill: Write the Story Down
    22. Common Words: Body, Strength and Everyday Things, Part 1 of 2
    23. Common Words: Body, Strength and Everyday Things, Part 2 of 2
    24. Unit 19 review: Everyday words & past stories

20. Unit 20 · Two pronouns together

    Me lo, te la, se lo: both pronouns at once, with infinitives, gerunds and commands.

    1. Two Pronouns Together: Me Lo, Te La, Nos Los, Parte 1 de 2
    2. Two Pronouns Together: Me Lo, Te La, Nos Los, Parte 2 de 2
    3. Pattern Practice: Se Lo, Se La, Se Los, Se Las, Parte 1 de 2
    4. Pattern Practice: Se Lo, Se La, Se Los, Se Las, Parte 2 de 2
    5. Two Pronouns with Infinitives, Gerunds and Commands, Part 1 of 2
    6. Two Pronouns with Infinitives, Gerunds and Commands, Part 2 of 2
    7. Choose & Explain: Double Pronouns with Infinitives, Part 1 of 2
    8. Choose & Explain: Double Pronouns with Infinitives, Part 2 of 2
    9. Q&A Drill: Answer with Two Pronouns, Part 1 of 2
    10. Q&A Drill: Answer with Two Pronouns, Part 2 of 2
    11. Real-World Mission: Moving Flat
    12. Unit 20 review: Two pronouns together

21. Unit 21 · Elementary review

    Comprehensive reviews and cumulative circuits across all of the Elementary level.

    1. Elementary Comprehensive Review, Part 1 of 3
    2. Cumulative Circuit 1: Past Tenses + Pronouns
    3. Cumulative Circuit 2: Por/Para + Future + Comparisons
    4. Fix the Paragraph: An Email Full of Elementary Errors
    5. Say It Yourself: Introduce Yourself — Past, Present, Future
    6. Speed Round: The 10 Biggest Elementary Traps, Part 1 of 2
    7. Speed Round: The 10 Biggest Elementary Traps, Part 2 of 2
    8. Elementary Comprehensive Review, Part 2 of 3
    9. Story Cloze: A Day at the Market
    10. Chain Transformations: One Sentence, Four Times
    11. Q&A Drill: A Full Weekend Interview
    12. Minimal Pairs: Elementary Final Contrasts
    13. Build-Up: Write a Postcard
    14. Elementary Comprehensive Review, Part 3 of 3
    15. Unit 21 review: Elementary review

22. Unit 22 · Cumulative circuits & challenges

    Irregular verbs, pronoun placement and the first Elementary challenges.

    1. Cumulative Circuit 3: The Irregular Verb Workout
    2. Cumulative Circuit 4: Pronoun Placement Everywhere
    3. Cumulative Circuit 5: Describing People Then and Now
    4. Cumulative Circuit 6: Everyday Situations
    5. Story Cloze: My Grandfather's Story
    6. Mixed Practice: Translation Sprint
    7. Elementary Challenge: The Big Error Hunt
    8. Elementary Challenge: Dialogue Marathon
    9. Elementary Challenge: Translation Relay
    10. Elementary Challenge: Build-a-Sentence
    11. Elementary Challenge: Story Chain
    12. Elementary Challenge: A Life Timeline
    13. Unit 22 review: Cumulative circuits & challenges

23. Unit 23 · Elementary challenges & exit test

    A week in Buenos Aires, the past-tense gauntlet and the exit test for the Intermediate level.

    1. Elementary Challenge: A Week in Buenos Aires — Part 1
    2. Elementary Challenge: A Week in Buenos Aires — Part 2
    3. Elementary Challenge: The Pronoun Gauntlet
    4. Elementary Challenge: The Past-Tense Gauntlet
    5. Elementary Challenge: Comparisons, Future & Por/Para
    6. Elementary Challenge: Email to Your Host Family
    7. Final Drill: Are You Ready for the Intermediate level?
    8. Unit 23 review: Elementary challenges & exit test
    9. Elementary Level Test: Ready for the Intermediate level?, Part 1 of 2
    10. Elementary Level Test: Ready for the Intermediate level?, Part 2 of 2